NEW BOSTON, Texas-For perhaps the first time in Bowie County's history, the Commissioners Court will consider appointing a county fire marshal during their 10 a.m. meeting today-and they already have someone in mind.
Commissioners will consider creating the fire marshal post and appointing Bowie County Office of Emergency Services Coordinator Jim Roberts to the position.
Late last week, Bowie County Judge James Carlow said Roberts, who also serves as Wake Village mayor, will assume both tasks and perform both jobs as OES coordinator and fire marshal.
With the county getting hit by at least one severe tornado (DeKalb in May of 1999,) along with two major floods ( May of 1990 and 2015) and a severe ice storm ( December of 2000) during the last 26 years, Carlow said county officials thought it would be a good idea to have a fire marshal to help coordinate efforts regarding all future natural as well as man-made emergencies and disasters.
"Basically this is being done as an inclusive effort for all emergencies and disasters," Carlow said. "This will allow for better coordination among not only our various fire departments and volunteer fire departments within the county, it will also serve to help improve coordination with all our emergency first responders ( law enforcement, fire, hazardous material teams and emergency medical services personnel)," he said.
Besides floods, tornadoes and ice storms, the county also experienced major wildfires south of Wake Village in the summer of 2011, a freight train explosion in neighboring Texarkana, Ark., in October of 2005 and many hurricane evacuees from southeast Texas in September, 2008.
While the county's proposed fire marshal office will mainly focus on the county's rural, unincorporated areas outside of Texarkana, Texas-where about 57,000 rural residents live-live, Carlow said the office will also coordinate with both the Texas side and Arkansas side during emergencies.
As to whether the county has ever had a fire marshal, Carlow said it hasn't as far as he knows, adding that Roberts may be the first.
"We also plan on making this a permanent office," he said.
As for funding the office, Carlow added that the state might have some grant funds available for aiding the office in equipment purchases if need be.
In other business, commissioners will take action on approving a service agreement between the county and the Texas Association of Counties' County Information Resources Agency regarding email security, storage, deletion and back up services as well as other website services.